During the school year, Menlo’s dedicated athletes strive to take all opportunities available. However, there are some opportunities that cannot be taken advantage of until the summer months. During the summer, student-athletes perform at a more competitive level, travel overseas for sports training, and devote themselves to sports Menlo doesn’t offer.

Performing at a Higher Level

Freshman Chris Xi, sophomores Audrey Flower, Nick Bisconti, Andreas Katsis, Spencer Witte and Weston Avery, and juniors Johnny Wilson and John Wilson participated in the Junior Olympics for water polo through Stanford’s water polo club team. Flower uses Stanford’s intense conditioning preparation for the Junior Olympics to perform at a high level for the Menlo girls water polo team during the school year. Bisconti, also a member of the Stanford Water Polo Club, competed in the Junior Olympics in order to improve his overall skills as a varsity water polo player. His team placed second in their Division at the Olympics. “I really wanted to get better at water polo and I knew the best way to do that was to compete at a high level,” Bisconti said that he joined the Stanford team “to get stronger and better for the school year.”

Training Overseas

Junior Sienna Stritter trained nonstop this summer with her soccer team. The team traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in July for twelve days through the organization “Futbol Abroad.” The “Blitz” stayed at a training facility and trained twice a day, every day.  They also competed in four matches against the Women’s National Team of Argentina, two professional teams, and a college level team. “Argentina was an excellent opportunity for me to explore soccer in a different way,” Stritter said. “I was exposed to different styles of play and coaching.”

Freshman Hannah Paye also competed against international sports teams. She participated in an AAU league at Paye’s Place, and “traveled around the west coast playing teams from as far as Costa Rica and Canada.” Although Paye didn’t travel overseas  herself, she gained experience competing with international basketball teams.

Trying New Sports

Senior Max Parker participated in a local summer rugby team called Peninsula Green. Originally a Menlo varsity tri-athlete, Parker expanded his previous skills in football, soccer, and track in order to compete in summer rugby. He explained, “[sports] have always been what has made summer so special for all of [his] life.” Adding another sport to try out and compete in was natural for the athletically gifted Parker.

No matter the time of year, you can always count on Menlo athletes to take advantage of the most exciting opportunities offered to them, especially in areas they love. From competing in Junior Olympics to starting a whole new sport, Menlo’s dedicated student-athletes truly made the most of the precious three summer months.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                take advantage of the most exciting opportunities offered to them, especially in areas they love. From competing in Junior Olympics to starting a whole new sport, Menlo’s dedicated student-athletes truly made the most of the precious three summer months.